FLEET WORLD - The Vauxhall Corsa takes the Best Supermini title in the awards for 2017.

Vauxhall’s Corsa has been chosen as one of the top models in the fleet industry, taking home the Best Supermini award at the 2017 Fleet World Honours.

Announced at the annual Fleet World Honours awards ceremony at the Royal Automobile Club in London on Tuesday, the Corsa topped its extremely competitive Best Supermini category. 

The judges, made up of influential decision-makers and fleet industry journalists, praised the model for its efficiency, running costs and technology.

“The Corsa is a staple part of the UK fleet sector, popular enough to outsell entire model ranges single-handedly,” said Alex Grant, Fleet World Editor. “Driving the latest version, that’s no surprise. It’s fun to drive, great value and feature-rich, while the model range includes low-CO₂ engines and trim levels to suit all business needs.”

“We’re delighted the Corsa has been recognised at the Fleet World Honours,” said James Taylor, Vauxhall’s Fleet Sales Director. “The fleet market is an important sector for our best-selling Corsa and we are pleased that it remains a firm favourite.”

In its fourth-generation, the Corsa has achieved exceptional sales, thanks to buyers’ familiarity with its name, looks, value and fondness for its compact dimensions and interior packaging.

It has also been Vauxhall’s best-selling car for many years, vying with Fiesta for the UK’s Number One spot and topping sales charts in Scotland and Northern Ireland outright.

On Thursday 15 September Sir Stirling Moss OBE officially opened a new seafood restaurant and cocktail bar at the Royal Automobile Club’s Woodcote Park clubhouse.

On Thursday 15 September Sir Stirling Moss OBE officially opened a new seafood restaurant and cocktail bar at the Royal Automobile Club’s Woodcote Park clubhouse in Epsom. Leading a cavalcade of classic Jaguars, Sir Stirling made a spectacular entrance down the Captain’s Drive to the delight of members and guests.

Sir Stirling led the procession in a Jaguar XK120, the same model he drove on the eve of his 21^st birthday, when he won the Royal Automobile Club International Tourist Trophy on the Dundrod circuit in Northern Ireland. During 1951 and 1961 Stirling won the race a further six times. Also taking part in the parade was the Jaguar C-type commemorating his win in 1951 and the famous long nose D-type which won the 12-hour race at Reims in 1956.

Historically, there are few racing drivers whose success extends to every category of motor sport. Sir Stirling Moss OBE can lay claim to that accolade. In 1955 he raced to victory in the British Grand Prix at Aintree, the Mille Miglia and the Targo Florio. The Club’s new destination restaurant was truly inspired by the life and tastes of Sir Stirling, featuring classic seafood dishes and his signature cocktails.

Sir Stirling and his wife, Lady Moss, played an integral role in developing the menus.  Sir Stirling said: “I have been eating at the Club for over 60 years and this new restaurant reflects my love of seafood, the appreciation of lavish surroundings and attentive service”.  He went on to say that, “the restaurant has a wonderful ambience and will make for a truly great dining experience”.

Sir Stirling has had a long and fruitful relationship with the Royal Automobile Club. In 1954 he was given honorary life membership and Club Chairman, Tom Purves, said it was imperative that the new restaurant truly encapsulated the spirit of Sir Stirling. ‘We had a lot to live up to. I hope that members will enjoy Stirling’s as much as we have enjoyed trying to create something special, something memorable, in the name of our most famous, most heralded, most loved member. A true racer and a fine gentleman.’

The Club’s Executive Head Chef, Philip Corrick, commented: ‘We developed dishes inspired by discussions I had with Sir Stirling, and by the many achievements he is credited with. Monaco is his favourite destination, which had a huge influence on the menu. One of the signature dishes is Ravioli Mille Miglia, a seafood ravioli with lobster sauce.’ Because of Sir Stirling’s close relationship with Goodwood, all the meat and dairy produce in the restaurant is from Goodwood Estates Home Farm and the focus is on the best of British food. Sir Stirling and Lady Moss also lent inspiration to the signature cocktails on offer. The ‘No.7’, a modern twist on the classic Champagne cocktail, takes its name from Sir Stirling’s favourite race car number and is mixed with his favourite ingredients. ‘Stirling’s Moss’ is a long and refreshing drink that gets its vibrant hue from locally-sourced fresh ingredients and is inspired by the Woodcote racing green colour.

Also on display in the restaurant was a range of iconic and personal artefacts from Stirling’s private collection including the original steering wheel from his dramatic crash at Goodwood, navigator Denis Jenkinson’s pace notes from the triumphant Mille Miglia win in 1955, plus Sir Stirling’s racing gloves, boots, trophies and other significant memorabilia.

The event concluded with a special presentation to Sir Stirling and a  birthday cake to celebrate his 87^th birthday (17 September).

The Royal Automobile Club:

The Royal Automobile Club was founded in 1897 and its distinguished history mirrors that of motoring itself. In 1907, the Club was awarded its Royal title by King Edward VII, sealing the Club’s status as Britain’s oldest and most influential motoring organisation.

The Club’s early years were focused on promoting the motor car and its place in society, which developed into motoring events such as the 1000 Mile Trial, first held in 1900. In 1905, the Club held the first Tourist Trophy, which remains the oldest continuously competed for motor sports event. The Club promoted the first pre-war and post-war Grands Prix at Brooklands in 1926 and Silverstone in 1948 respectively, whilst continuing to campaign for the rights of the motorist, including introducing the first driving licences.

Today, the Club continues to develop and support automobilism through representation on the Motor Sport Association (MSA), Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and RAC Foundation. It also  promotes its own motoring events, such as the free-to-attend Regent Street Motor Show and the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run supported by Hiscox, which are two of the highlights of the Club’s London Motor Week, which this year runs from Monday 31 October to Sunday 6 November 2016.

The Royal Automobile Club also awards a series of historic trophies and medals celebrating motoring achievements. These include the Segrave Trophy, the Tourist Trophy, the Simms Medal, the Dewar Trophy, the Torrens Trophy and the Diamond Jubilee Trophy.

The Volvo XC90 has been crowned Best SUV at the Fleet World Honours 2016.

• Tax-efficient XC90 voted best SUV by panel of fleet judges
• Seven-seat XC90 praised for its Scandinavian design, world-first safety systems and advanced connectivity
• Diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains, with CO₂ emissions from just 49g/km

The Volvo XC90 has been crowned Best SUV at the Fleet World Honours 2016. The prestigious award ceremony was held at the famous Royal Automobile Club in London on Tuesday 19th April 2016. The XC90 was praised by the judges for its elegant design, luxurious and practical interior, and advanced safety and connectivity equipment.

Commenting on the XC90, the Fleet World judges said: “Spearheading Volvo’s new-generation products, the XC90 is a distinctly Scandinavian take on luxury motoring. Elegantly designed and effortlessly comfortable, it offers competitive diesel and plug-in hybrid options for fleets and features the best interior in its class. 

With world-first safety systems, advanced connectivity on board and near-infinite practicality, it’s a deserved winner.”

The XC90 uses Volvo’s all-new SPA platform and a range of powerful yet efficient Drive-E powertrains. These include the recently upgraded D5 diesel engine with its ground-breaking PowerPulse technology and the plug-in hybrid petrol-electric T8 Twin Engine.

PowerPulse is an innovative technology that uses compressed air to boost the engine’s responsiveness by virtually eliminating turbo lag. This helps give the performance of a much larger engine, especially at low revs. Add CO₂ emissions of just 149g/km and competitively low P11D prices, and the XC90 D5 PowerPulse is a compelling choice for fleet customers.

The T8 Twin Engine combines a petrol engine with an electric motor to offer the running costs of a far smaller, less powerful car. It is capable of doing up to 27 miles in electric-only mode, offering near-silent, zero-emission travel. Its class-leading CO₂ emissions of 49g/km are seriously impressive, but factor in its 100% first year write-down allowance and corporation tax relief of up to £12,720 (based on a T8 Twin Engine Inscription) and the XC90 T8 is exceptionally tax-efficient for a seven-seat SUV.

Being a Volvo, the XC90 also leads the field when it comes to safety. Among the world-first technology fitted as standard is automatic emergency braking at a junction, which applies the brakes should you turn into the course of an oncoming vehicle. Another ground-breaking safety aid is Run-off Road Protection, which includes an innovative energy-absorbing section in the front seats to help prevent spinal injuries if your car leaves the road.

Selwyn Cooper, Head of Business Sales of Volvo Car UK, said: “It’s a fantastic result for the XC90 to be voted Best SUV by such an influential title as Fleet World. The XC90’s winning combination of tax-efficiency, luxury, practicality, high-tech equipment and of course safety make it the ideal choice for all business users.”

The Jaguar XF wins another major award, it's been crowned ‘Best Executive Car’ at the Fleet World Honours.

• The Jaguar XF has won yet another major award this year, having been crowned ‘Best Executive Car’ at the Fleet World Honours
• This latest award underlines the new XF’s fleet-friendly total cost of ownership figures, which are the best in a class of extremely competitive models
• Fleet World judges praised the all-new XF’s ultra-low emissions and internet-connected technologies, which make it perfect for a life on the road
• The new Jaguar XF has already been named Business Car’s Executive Car of the Year and the SME Best Director’s Company Car, as well as the Top Gear ‘Saloon Car of the Year’

The Jaguar XF has won yet another major award, having been crowned Fleet World’s ‘Best Executive Car’ at the annual Fleet World Honours. With an aluminium-intensive construction and ultra-efficient Ingenium engines, the XF was not only praised for being great to drive, but also for its cost of ownership figures and technology.

Steve Moody, Fleet World Editor, said: “Having spent several years building on its fleet infrastructure, Jaguar’s new XF arrived ready to take on this segment’s biggest-selling models. Its aluminium-rich structure cuts weight, reduces running costs and has made this a true driver’s car. The XF is also packed full of useful internet-connected technology, perfect for a life on the road. It’s the right tool to continue Jaguar’s push into fleet.”

It’s only the latest award won by the all-new Jaguar XF this year, which has already had been recognized by Business Car as Executive Car of the Year and as Business Car Manager’s SME Best Director’s Company Car. Top Gear Magazine also named the XF as its Saloon Car of the Year.

Jeremy Hicks, Jaguar Land Rover UK MD, said: “The XF competes in one of the most aggressive segments in the industry; not only does it have to be stylish, luxurious and packed full of technology, but it really has to add up financially, too. This Fleet World Honour is just the latest validation of what we’ve known about new XF from the beginning; it is quite simply the best all-round package in the executive class.”

The Jaguar XF was designed from the ground up to appeal to fleet and business customers, and boasts total cost-of-ownership figures better than any of its rivals. Industry valuation company, CAP, says the XF will have the strongest residual values in its segment – holding 53% of its value after 3 years/30,000 miles – and thanks to emissions as low as 104g/km and fuel economy as high as 70.6mpg, it makes perfect financial sense as a company car.

Mitsubishi UK is celebrating the Outlander PHEV as it was awarded the title of ‘Best Ultra Low Emission Vehicle

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK is celebrating after the Outlander PHEV was awarded the title of ‘Best Ultra Low Emission Vehicle’ for the second year in a row at the prestigious Fleet World Honours.

The Fleet World Honours, at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London, are presented annually to motor manufacturers, service companies and individuals that have, in the opinion of the judges, achieved the highest possible level of excellence in their sector.

The awards are open to all motor manufacturers and the judging panel is chaired by Steve Moody, Editor of Fleet World, and includes John Kendall and Alex Grant from the Fleet World editorial team.

Presenting the award, Steve said: ‘A global sales phenomenon, the Outlander PHEV has introduced more than 21,000 UK drivers to the benefits of electric motoring, and it’s revolutionised Mitsubishi’s fleet presence. Low CO₂ emissions of 42g/km make this capacious, well-equipped SUV an accessible company car, while updates last year have broadened its appeal still further. It’s a true game-changer.’

Just over two years on from its launch in April 2014, the Outlander PHEV has overtaken every other plug-in hybrid and pure electric car, even passing vehicles that have been around since 2011, such as the Nissan Leaf. 

Lance Bradley, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, said: ‘The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is different to other hybrids in the market and we are so pleased that it has won this award at the Fleet World Honours for the second year running. People are increasingly attracted to environmental credentials, performance and the economy that can be delivered, but still want to have a vehicle that is great to drive, so it’s no surprise the Outlander PHEV has generated such interest from fleet operators and leasing companies. The judges described it as a “game-changer” and that is absolutely right because the Outlander PHEV has transformed the UK’s plug-in hybrid sector.’

The Outlander PHEV has become the UK's number one choice and it’s not difficult to see why it is proving so popular. It boasts impressive fuel economy and ultra-low emissions – in a vehicle with the go-anywhere ability of four-wheel-drive. Combining electric and petrol power it has a range of 541 miles - 32 miles in electric mode alone, which is more than enough to accommodate the average daily commute.

As well as its official fuel consumption figure of 156 miles per gallon, the Outlander PHEV’s low emissions of just 42g of CO₂ per kilometre mean there’s no vehicle tax to pay. It is exempt from the congestion charge and it qualifies for the Government's £2,500 plug-in car grant. In addition, company car drivers can reap the reward of low Benefit in Kind tax (BIK), meaning a virtual pay rise of several thousand pounds per year.

Renault awarded Most Improved Manufacturer in Fleet World Honours Renault Kadjar wins Best Crossover.

• Renault awarded Most Improved Manufacturer in Fleet World Honours
• Renault Kadjar wins Best Crossover in annual awards
• Most Improved Manufacturer award follows major enhancements to fleet operation
• Stylish All-New Kadjar praised for driving style, value for money and strong residuals

Renault has been named as Most Improved Manufacturer and the Renault Kadjar crowned Best Crossover in the 2016 Fleet World Honours. The highly coveted awards were presented at a prestigious ceremony held this afternoon at the historic Royal Automobile Club on Pall Mall, London.

Renault won the Most Improved Manufacturer category after its superb performance in 2015 was praised by the Fleet World Honours’ expert judging panel, while the All-New Kadjar topped the Best Crossover category having impressed with its styling, value for money and technology.

Commenting on the judges’ decision to award the brand and the All-New Renault Kadjar, Steve Moody, Editor, Fleet World said: “Renault has shot straight to the top of this class with the Kadjar. It’s one of the best crossovers to drive, adopting the brand’s chic new family styling and packed full of flexibility and useful technology. Add in strong residual values, joint-lowest CO₂ emissions and impressive value for money, and the newcomer sets high standards for the rest of the class.”

Mark Dickens, Head of Fleet Sales and Remarketing, said: “We’re delighted to win these accolades, the Most Improved Manufacturer award recognising the significant investment we have made across all aspects of our fleet operation and the Best Crossover award reflecting the impact the stylish Kadjar has made in only a few months due to its class-leading residual values, stunning design and highly attractive all-round business package.

“2016 will see us build on this success as we expand our C-segment fleet offering with the launch of the All-New Mégane, Mégane Sport Tourer, All-New Scénic and Grand Scénic, and continue our strategy to double the number of specialist Pro+ business-focused dealerships.”

Factors that were instrumental in Renault taking the title of Most Improved Manufacturer included the growth of the demonstrator fleet by 57 per cent and the increase of the corporate team by a third. Call centre personnel were also enlarged by 40 per cent and the Pro+ (Business Centre) specialised dealer network was strengthened with additional openings.

Another contributing factor to being awarded the title was Renault’s popular LCV range, consisting of the Kangoo small van, the all-electric Kangoo Van Z.E, the medium-sized Trafic panel van, as well as the large Master van. A comprehensive range of factory and approved LCV conversions are also available to order.

The enhancements contributed to Groupe Renault UK selling nearly 60,000 fleet vehicles in 2015 – representing a year-on-year increase of 25 per cent. Renault’s LCV sales were also up 40 per cent, for a record year in the UK, making Renault the second fastest-growing LCV brand in the UK, and sales of its official LCV conversions rose by 74 per cent compared to 2014.

The success of the Renault Kadjar in the Fleet World Honours underlines its rapidly-increasing popularity with business users. Emissions as low as 99g/km CO₂, fuel consumption of up to 74.3mpg (NEDC Combined) and Benefit-in-Kind banding from 19 per cent have all contributed to the Kadjar fast becoming a fleet favourite.

In addition to its Fleet World Honours 2016 award, the stylish crossover has already won Best Small SUV at the ContractHireAndLeasing.com Car of the Year 2015 Awards and Best Crossover at the Next Green Car Awards 2015.

Since it arrived in the UK in September 2015, the Kadjar has strengthened Renault’s presence in the crossover market – building on the success of its compact crossover sibling, Captur. Its combination of striking design, efficient powertrains, spacious interior, high levels of standard specification, best-in-class residual values and five-star Euro NCAP rating have proved a hit with British car buyers.

Kadjar is available with a choice of three engines, three gearboxes, five trim levels and two-or four-wheel drive. The range starts from £17,995 OTR and comes with a four-year warranty and Renault Assistance package as standard.

Kadjar’s introduction to the range in 2015 contributed to Renault’s continued sales growth with registrations up by 20 per cent on 2014, growing at over three times the rate of the market, to 101,076 vehicles compared to a market that grew by six per cent.  

The 2016 calendar of events for the Motor Racing Legends Series has been released, dont miss this, its great.

Motor Racing Legends has unveiled its 2016 racing calendar which launches at the three day spectacular; Donington Historic Festival in May.

The four premier racing grids which come under the highly respected Motor Racing Legends banner include; the Historic Touring Car Challenge, Pre-War Sports Car Series, the highly competitive Stirling Moss Trophy for pre-’61 Sports Racing cars and for gentleman racers, the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy for original pre-’56 Sports cars.

All four of the Motor Racing Legends grids get the opportunity to race at a range of premier international historic meetings offering competitors a chance in the spotlight at some of the world’s best historic racing events.

2016 calendar highlights include all Legends grids starting at the Donington Historic Festival (April 30-May 2). This year the Pre-War Sports Car grid will also head to Zandvoort for the Historic Grand Prix event on the 2-4 September and the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy and Stirling Moss Trophy grids will both head to Silverstone Classic (Jul 29-31), Spa Six Hours (Sept 16-18) and the Algarve Classic Festival (Oct 28-30).

A first for 2016 sees the Historic Touring Car Challenge (HTCC) making its debut appearance on the Silverstone Classic programme with its own grid. This series is made up from touring cars from 1966 for Groups 1 & 2 and Group A Touring Cars that raced in the British and European Touring Car Championships between 1972 and 1985.

Motor Racing Legends Chairman Duncan Wiltshire commented “We’ve got a great calendar line-up for 2016, I am particularly excited to see the Historic Touring Cars featuring at Silverstone Classic and some interesting rule changes to be announced in the new-year should boost grid sizes as well as competition.  I am also looking forward to joining the Pre-War Sports Car Series when they head to Zandvoort where we hope to meet up with some new European competitors. All our grids will be out in force at the Donington Historic Festival and I am delighted to reconfirm support in 2016 from our sponsors JD Classics and EFG.”

Provisional Motor Racing Legends Calendar for: Historic Touring Car Challenge, (HTCC) Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy & Stirling Moss Trophy

• Donington Historic Festival (April 30 – May 2)
• Silverstone Classic (July 29, 30, 31)
• Spa Six Hours (September 16, 17, 18)
• Algarve Classic Festival (October 28, 29, 30)

Pre War Sports Car Series - Calendar

• Donington Historic Festival (April 30 – May 2)
• Historic Grand Prix - Zandvoort  (September 3 & 4)

The 2015 Beaujolais Run® was set off on its jouney by John Surtees OBE, who joined in the fun, in a Ferrari FF.

Over 30 crews participated in this year’s Beaujolais Run® which was flagged off by John Surtees from the Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, Epsom on Monday 16^th November.

The Beaujolais Run® was initially a race to get the first bottle of the new season’s Beaujolais wine back to England; it has taken place 45 times since its inception in 1970.  Following the death of his son in 2009, John Surtees OBE became patron, and sponsorship funds raised by participants is donated to the Henry Surtees Foundation.

The Beaujolais Run® is a navigational trail through a cryptic checkpoint course that begins in the UK and ends in Burgundy, France. 

It is designed to give a level playing field for all types of vehicles, be they classic cars, supercars, Classic Cars, off-roaders, daily drivers and/or touring motorcycles of any age. With navigation classes for ‘maps only’ and ‘any assistance’ (satellite navigation, etc.).

The four day rally prides itself on its unique, unprecedented access to chateaux, historic battle fields, famous vineyards and encounters at world renowned motor racing circuits, plus fantastic driving through Belgium and France and this year was no exception. 

The 1200 mile rally also visited the diamond city of Antwerp (a location favoured by Napoleon), visiting the Battle of Waterloo site. They were guest of the Mayor of Beaujolais for the celebrations of the release of the 2015 Nouveau vintage. 

All the participants were then driven to the chateau and home of the Taittinger Champagne family in Reims, where they were able to enjoy a superb dinner accompanied by a champagne from the Taittinger cellars chosen for each course.

Two and four-wheeled World Champion, and Patron of the Beaujolais Run® - John Surtees OBE joined the run participants in Reims on Thursday 19^th November driving the Ferrari FF after having seen them off at the start at RAC Woodcote Park. 

He was pictured loading a case of this year's Beaujolais Nouveau in a very wet pit lane at Reims (Gueux Circuit) in amongst meeting local fans.

John Surtees said “it was a delight to join the participants on the Beaujolais Run, and we are grateful to the Taittinger family for their hospitality, we all swapped the wheel for a coach  that night, as the champagne was flowing generously!”

Guest speaker Malcolm Barber, of Bonhams joined the dinner and shared stories of his involvement in some fantastic sales that he was involved with, including that of a Ferrari 250GTO that John was very conversant with, having raced one on numerous occasions.

John Surtees continued “I enjoyed visiting the start line of the old Reims Circuit; it holds many memories to me of racing both in sports cars and F1 cars. 

I met with French motor racing enthusiasts and got to hear about the terrific restoration work that they are carrying out to preserve the historic track and pit buildings. Back on the open road, I really had to resist temptation driving the FF, it’s so responsive, and with those wonderful French roads, no traffic, and a 12 cylinder engine – the temptation was difficult.”

The Run’s participants had plenty of fun and frustration on route as they tried to cover the course in the shortest distance to win the coveted ‘P2’ position on the following year’s start line. P1 is reserved for the highest fundraising team. 

All crews headed for deepest Burgundy and return, aiming to be the first that brings back the Beaujolais after its midnight release.

The Beaujolais Run® 2015 was generously supported by a number of key partners, including Partridge and Co., Champagne Taittinger, Ssangyong, Louise Latour, Rose and White Tailoring, The Review and Screaming Eagles, as well as Bentley Motors, Ferrari North Europe, Jaguar Cars and Artemis.